Corporate and Toastmasters make a great combination!

''Toastmasters a wonderful way to help its members and enhance their communication and leadership skills.''

Let’s first know about talented DTM Nilesh Karande: Nilesh Karande, DTM is working as Business Relations Manager, Global Digital Vertical, additionally handling communications, marketing, UI/UX of Digital applications, serving as Global Membership chair and regional lead of Careers Network at Worley India. Nilesh has won several award-including the prestigious outstanding toastmaster of District 98, the year 2020-21.

Now it's time to listen from another experienced Toastmaster Chitra R. Shetty. Chitra R. Shetty, currently heading Talent Acquisition and Management for the Corporate Team at Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited (Andheri) I carry an experience of more than 22 years in the HR domain, majoring in the pharmaceutical industry.

This is the time to explore more about the success stories of different clubs:

Nilesh Karande: The story behind starting Toastmasters Clubs in Worley? Worley values people’s learning and continuous development. Communication and leadership are indispensable skills for consulting firms. Worley had been aspiring to open a toastmaster’s club since 2015. A few of our colleagues also attended meetings at nearby clubs and Mumbai Toastmasters. However, earlier the attempts faded due to a lack of proper support and guidance. In March 2020, Worley formulated Careers Network, an initiative to help people upskill and move up in their Careers. One day, my pathway completion email went to my boss, and he forwarded that to L&D, who used to run the network back then. They saw a ray of hope and requested me to lead the efforts for Worley’s own Toastmasters club in Oct 2020. Today, I am leading that network globally along with fellow leaders across the world.

Worley today has two successful clubs Worley India Toastmasters Synergy and Worley India Toastmasters Harmony. After consistent evaluation and open dialogue by senior leaders with toastmasters for assessing the potential of the toastmasters club, Worley management has now got best in class enrollment and reimbursement program for Toastmasters. In pursuit of this excellence and to accommodate more toastmasters, last week, we chartered our third club in the Andheri office, Worley India Toastmasters Energy. Toastmasters in eight locations in India join in meeting in hybrid mode. We are WITS.

Chitra R. Shetty: The story behind starting Toastmasters Club in Alembic? Alembic has always believed in nurturing and developing its young talent. A good part of our workforce is millennials and Generation Z who are constantly looking at how they can be better versions of themselves.

Our philosophy at Alembic has been, “Stay with Alembic, Grow with Alembic” which translates into various means and ways to develop Alembians so that they can contribute better and grow along with the organization. Toastmasters was recommended and initiated by our President – Human Resources & Business Support, Mr. Chandrahas I. Shetty. He believed that Toastmasters could be a wonderful way to not just help its members enhance their communication and leadership skills but also to bring members from different functions together and help them know each other better, especially during the pandemic when social interaction was at its all-time low. And that’s how the beautiful journey of the Alembic Toastmasters Club began.

How do you think Toastmasters club helps employees in developing communication and leadership Skills? Do you observe any leadership quality enhancement in employees due to Toastmasters Club? How is Worley benefiting from these Toastmasters clubs all over India?

Nilesh Karande: Toastmasters club is a sandbox environment for all. A positive and supportive place to make mistakes and learn from them. It has helped our people to be more confident. Before joining if they were struggling to put words together in proper syntax, today they are leading the club as President and articulating their deliveries very well. The confidence gained in the club has helped them stand tall and debate well, respectfully, and reasonably.

There are few bosses in our club like office leaders, they share those effective evaluations that have helped them tremendously. He is reaping the benefit of a team that hears and implements his suggestion from him. His persuasive skills have improved, and his shyness and presumptions have reduced. Some take inspiration from fellow members, and few see it as a place for great cross-functional and cross-location networking. Someone who never received a trophy in life got motivated to scale newer heights in toastmasters as well as profession. Top leaders praise the positive effect of toastmasters on crucial resources. While operating as club leaders, members learn fine details of leadership and are ready for the next challenge. Consistent, practical group learning is the best and unique feature of toastmasters, which is crucial to nurture the skills of communication and leadership.

Chitra R. Shetty: I can vouch for the effectiveness of the club in helping members develop their communication skills. The club has different ways to help even the shyest members to come and speak in a public forum without feeling intimidated. The environment is so created that there is a lot of positive reinforcement and encouragement, which helps them return to the stage for the second and third time. We got to know so many members who we never thought could articulate so well or had such a wonderful sense of humor or a great sense of creativity or whose life journeys we were unaware of. Be it the ice breaker speech which helps you break down the barriers or the table topics which help you develop your thinking on the feet ability, the club does wonders for members who show the passion and will to push themselves out of their comfort zones. When you are a part of the executive committee of the Toastmasters Club, you are selected on your ability to push through and get things done rather than just your official role and designation. Our first executive committee was made up of a good mix of members who were at junior, middle, and mid-senior levels.

Toastmaster's meeting at Alembic Pharmaceuticals Limited

We had a Vice President of Education, Dr. Smitha Sarkar who was a newcomer to the organization and at a junior level, but she coordinated and led the group so beautifully and was hugely instrumental in making our Club, a distinguished club within four months of its charter. So, a resounding yes to that question. I would like to reiterate that Toastmasters is a wonderful platform for all those who want to push out of their comfort zone and better themselves. Alembic Toastmasters Club is a great platform for Alembians to meet and know each other better. It offers great visibility to all the members across different functions and levels. It is constantly helping the members think on their feet, think differently, and enhance their communication and leadership skills. To summarize, it has been a great addition to our development journey.

Can you share your experience? Nilesh Karande: We have seen people thanking us for operating a club in-house. Whenever we visit the clan, we get energized and motivated to support these ignited minds more and more. We have witnessed how professionally the meetings are organized and even in that setting how warm is the environment, necessary for being comfortable and learning. We have got an excellent support system in place for Toastmasters club operation.

Toastmaster's meeting at Worley India

What is your message to your employees?

Nilesh Karande: I am myself a distinguished toastmaster. I always request members to be consistent in attending meetings. While attending keep stock of your learnings, one should benefit from each meeting. Keep writing speeches and deliver them periodically. Leverage the mentorship available to you. We are here to pursue educational excellence. Here are a few tips: Read more, read frequently, consistently. Toastmaster magazine is a great resource. Look at all your project in a pathway and plan your projects in parallel. Plan well for your upskilling. Be ready for the next challenge. Do smart multitasking. Always keep acquiring new skills.

Chitra R. Shetty: “Come, and be a part of this beautiful journey which will bring out the best in you, something you may yourselves be unaware of”. Alembic has facilitated such a wonderful platform to help you hone your communication and leadership skills, many Alembians are already making the best use of it. Time for you to assess the current 'you' and make it better!